April
Building capacity for inner - city health
William (MBA 1978) and Robin Downe are longtime advocates for improving the health of vulnerable populations. “Robin and I both believe that those of us who have had the good fortune of education, employment and so many other advantages need to participate directly in the community through the contribution of our time and financial support,” Downe said. “All of us need to feel that we are part of the whole community and by sharing the benefits we have realized, take some responsibility for its well-being.” Bill Downe is on the board of Toronto’s St. Michael’s Hospital Foundation and is a member of the Campaign Executive for the Boundless Campaign. He served as Chairman of the 2009 Campaign Cabinet for United Way of Greater Toronto and is a past Chair of the Board of Directors of St. Michael’s Hospital. In 2013, the Downes made a $2 million donation to the University of Toronto and St. Michael’s Hospital to advance research and educate future and current leaders of the health sector. This generous gift has created the Chair in Intersectoral Solutions for Urban Health Problems at St. Michael’s; the Community Health Leadership Program (CHLP) at the Rotman School of Management; and provided support that has tripled enrolment in the LEAD (Leadership Education and Development) program at the Faculty of Medicine. LEAD gives medical students the training they need to realize their leadership potential, while CHLP strengthens the strategic management skills of leaders of community health and social service agencies.
24 Boundless: A Year in Review 2013